OBJECTIVE To analyze the impact of the diagnosis-related groups （DRG） payment reform on the length of stay and medical costs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） in Kashgar region， aiming to provide localized empirical evidence for the optimization of regional medical insurance payment methods. METHODS Based on the inpatient settlement database of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Healthcare Security Administration， settlement data of COPD inpatients from 17 medical institutions in Kashgar region between January 1， 2022， and December 31， 2024， were extracted. The overall changes in patients’ length of stay and costs were compared before and after the reform. Subsequently， interrupted time series analysis （ITSA） was employed to explore the impact of the DRG payment reform on these variables. RESULTS Following the reform， both the average length of stay and various cost decreased significantly compared to the pre-reform period （ P ＜0.001）. At the overall sample level， the average length of stay， average total cost， average drug cost， average medical service cost， and average examination cost per admission all demonstrated significant long-term downward trends after the reform （ P ＜0.05）. However， the decrease in average out-of-pocket costs and the increase in average consumable costs per admission were not statistically significant （ P ＞0.05）. In tertiary medical institutions， the average length of stay and all categories of costs （except average consumable costs per admission） exhibited significant long-term upward trends after the reform （ P ＜0.05）； conversely， in secondary and lower-level medical institutions， the average length of stay， average total cost， average drug cost， average medical service cost， and average examination cost per admission showed significant long-term downward trends （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The DRG payment reform has achieved an overall effect of reducing the length of stay and controlling costs in COPD patients from Kashgar region. However， the effects vary across different levels of medical institutions： secondary and lower-level institutions show a long-term downward trend in length of stay and costs， whereas tertiary institutions exhibit a long-term upward trend. Furthermore， patients’ out-of-pocket financial burden does not show significant improvement.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects of exogenous trigger (hCG/GnRHa) versus endogenous LH surge in natural cycle IVF/ICSI (NC-IVF/ICSI) for patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,118 NC-IVF/ICSI cycles from two reproductive centers between 2013 and 2024. Propensity score matching (PSM) and multivariate logistic regression were used to adjust for confounding factors. The trigger-day hormone threshold was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Outcome measures included oocyte retrieval rate, 2PN fertilization rate, clinical available embryo rate, high-quality embryo rate, fresh cycle clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), and live birth rate (LBR). RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders via PSM and logistic regression, the exogenous trigger group demonstrated significantly better outcomes across all the evaluated parameters (oocyte retrieval rate, 2PN fertilization rate, transferable embryo rate, high-quality embryo rate, fresh cycle CPR, and LBR) than the endogenous LH surge group (P<0.05). Age-stratified analysis revealed that for the entire cohort, exogenous triggering significantly increased the number of transferable embryos and high-quality embryos (P<0.001). In the 35-39 years old subgroup, exogenous triggering showed significant advantages in oocyte yield, high-quality embryo rate, CPR, and LBR (P<0.05) and resulted in the most pronounced improvement in LBR (OR=6.25, 95% CI: 1.34-29.23). ROC analysis established a decision-day LH threshold of 19.055 mIU/mL (AUC=0.945, specificity=93.3%) for precise stratification of the clinical pathways. CONCLUSIONS For DOR patients undergoing NC-IVF/ICSI, exogenous triggering comprehensively improves the treatment outcomes, particularly providing significant live birth benefits for women aged 35-40 years. An individualized protocol incorporating the LH threshold (19.055 mIU/mL) effectively enhances embryonic developmental potential and live birth rates.
Humans ; Female ; Ovarian Reserve ; Pregnancy ; Propensity Score ; Retrospective Studies ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Pregnancy Rate ; Logistic Models ; Ovulation Induction/methods* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Adult ; Oocyte Retrieval

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal cancer receiving first-line chemoimmunotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 137 patients with Stage Ⅳ esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated at our hospital from January 2018 to May 2023. These patients were divided into two groups: a group treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy combined with radiotherapy (chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group, n = 43) and a group treated with only chemoimmunotherapy ( n = 94). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to balance baseline characteristics between the groups. With overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as study endpoints, the survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and the Cox regression method. Results:Before calibration, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group significantly outperformed the sole chemoimmunotherapy group in median PFS (13.6 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.501, 95% CI: 0.309-0.811, P = 0.005). After calibration using the COX proportional-hazards model for age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, smoking history, T/N/M stage, and tumor location, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group still had significant advantages in PFS (14.7 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.441, 95% CI: 0.261-0.745, P = 0.002). IPTW analysis further confirmed this trend (13.9 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.492, 95% CI: 0.304-0.795, P < 0.001). Specifically, the median OS of the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group demonstrated significant improvement in all analyses: pre-calibration (29.5 months vs. 18.0 months; HR: 0.507, 95% CI: 0.297-0.867, P = 0.013), after calibration using the Cox model (27.5 months vs. 16.7 months; HR: 0.470, 95% CI: 0.266-0.830, P = 0.009), and after calibration using IPTW (29.5 months vs. 16.9 months; HR: 0.448, 95% CI: 0.262-0.764, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The combination of radiotherapy and first-line chemoimmunotherapy can significantly improve survival outcomes of patients with advanced ESCC, suggesting its potential as a standard treatment strategy.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal cancer receiving first-line chemoimmunotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 137 patients with Stage Ⅳ esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated at our hospital from January 2018 to May 2023. These patients were divided into two groups: a group treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy combined with radiotherapy (chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group, n = 43) and a group treated with only chemoimmunotherapy ( n = 94). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to balance baseline characteristics between the groups. With overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as study endpoints, the survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and the Cox regression method. Results:Before calibration, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group significantly outperformed the sole chemoimmunotherapy group in median PFS (13.6 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.501, 95% CI: 0.309-0.811, P = 0.005). After calibration using the COX proportional-hazards model for age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, smoking history, T/N/M stage, and tumor location, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group still had significant advantages in PFS (14.7 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.441, 95% CI: 0.261-0.745, P = 0.002). IPTW analysis further confirmed this trend (13.9 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.492, 95% CI: 0.304-0.795, P < 0.001). Specifically, the median OS of the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group demonstrated significant improvement in all analyses: pre-calibration (29.5 months vs. 18.0 months; HR: 0.507, 95% CI: 0.297-0.867, P = 0.013), after calibration using the Cox model (27.5 months vs. 16.7 months; HR: 0.470, 95% CI: 0.266-0.830, P = 0.009), and after calibration using IPTW (29.5 months vs. 16.9 months; HR: 0.448, 95% CI: 0.262-0.764, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The combination of radiotherapy and first-line chemoimmunotherapy can significantly improve survival outcomes of patients with advanced ESCC, suggesting its potential as a standard treatment strategy.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of honey in preoperative bowel preparation for colonoscopy in hospitalized patients.Methods 87 patients from April 2022 to July 2022 and underwent preoperative bowel preparation for colonoscopy were selected as the research subjects.Convenience sampling was used to divide them into a control group(n=43)and an observation group(n=44).The control group received a conventional regimen of taking compound polyethylene glycol(PEG)electrolyte powder(Heshuang),while the observation group added 20 mL of honey to the Heshuang solution.Compare the cleanliness of intestine,and palatability of the taste,the incidence of adverse reactions,satisfaction of patients,and the rate of willingness for prepeat bowel preparation between the two groups.Results The intestinal cleanliness of the two groups of patients was equivalent,the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The incidence and severity of nausea,abdominal bloating,hypoglycemia,and anal irritation in the observation group were lower than those in the control group,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The observation group had better taste,patients satisfaction,and the willingness for prepeat bowel preparation compared to the control group,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Honey can improve the taste of Heshuang,reduce the severity of oral adverse reactions,increase patient satisfaction,and increase the rate of willingness for prepeat bowel preparation.

Biliary fibrosis (BF) is the result of pathological repair of bile tract injury, characterized by thickening and sclerosis of the bile duct wall and progressive stricture of the lumen, which may ultimately lead to serious adverse outcomes such as biliary obstruction, biliary cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatobiliary malignancies. Current research describes BF as a pathological feature of certain bile tract diseases, lacking a systematic summary of its etiology, pathophysiology, molecular mechanisms, and treatment. BF is a common but easily neglected disease state in biliary system, which may promote the development and progression of hepatobiliary diseases through abnormal repair mechanism after pathological biliary tract injury. Based on the latest research progress from both domestic and international perspectives, the authors review the concept, clinical manifestation, etiology, pathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies of BF to provide a reference for clinical physicians.

Epigenomic imbalance drives abnormal transcriptional processes,promoting the onset and progression of cancer.Although defective gene regulation generally affects carcinogenesis and tumor suppression networks,tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses may also be affected by epigenomic changes,which may have significant implications for the development and application of epigenetic therapy,cancer immunotherapy,and their combinations.Herein,we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on tumor immune cell function and the role of key abnormal epigenetic processes,DNA methylation,histone post-translational modification,and chromatin structure in tumor immunogenicity,and introduce these epigenetic research methods.We emphasize the value of small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators in enhancing antitumor immune responses and discuss the challenges of developing treatment plans that combine epigenetic therapy and immuno-therapy through the complex interaction between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology.

Objective:To explore the ultrasonic hemodynamic characteristics of early allograft dysfunction after left lateral lobe liver transplantation in children with biliary atresia.Methods:A total of 546 children with biliary atresia who underwent related left lateral lobe liver transplantation at Tianjin First Central Hospital from December 2012 to June 2021 were retrospectively selected, according to the early functional recovery of the transplanted liver, it was divided into a normal function recovery group (non-EAD group) and an early allograft dysfunction group (EAD group). The hepatic artery peak systolic flow velocity (PSV), end-diastolic flow velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI), portal vein diameter (PVD), portal vein flow velocity (PVV), portal vein flow (PVF), left hepatic vein diameter (LHVD) and left hepatic vein velocity (LHVV) were measured 1 to 7 days after surgery (a total of 3 703 ultrasound examination results), and the differences in ultrasound hemodynamic parameters between the two groups were compared. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between hepatic artery RI=1.0, PSV<25 cm/s, PVV<15 cm/s, LHVV<15 cm/s and the occurrence of EAD within 7 days after surgery.Results:① Among the 546 children with biliary atresia, 262 children developed EAD after liver transplantation, and 284 children did not develop EAD. ②The portal vein flow of children in the EAD group was lower than that of the non-EAD group on 3 days, 4 days, 6 days and 7 days after surgery [3 days: 783 (560, 1 170) ml/(min·100 g) vs 942 (597, 1 381) ml/(min·100 g), P=0.006; 4 d: 862(594, 1 443) ml/(min·100 g) vs 1 068(748, 1 606) ml/(min·100 g), P=0.001; 6 d: 1 024 (631, 1 447) ml/(min·100 g) vs 1 141 (777, 1 709) ml/(min·100 g), P=0.005; 7 d: 937 (619, 1 408) ml/(min·100 g) vs 1 066 (670, 1 557) ml/(min·100 g), P=0.018]. The hepatic artery blood flow parameter RI was higher than that in the non-EAD group 7 days after surgery [0.72 (0.65, 0.79) vs 0.70 (0.63, 0.76), P=0.025]. There were no statistically significant differences in hepatic venous blood flow parameters between the two groups from 1 to 7 days (all P>0.05). ③Both the PVV and PVF in the EAD group and the non-EAD group showed an overall upward trend over time from 1 to 7 days after surgery, but compared with the non-EAD group, the portal vein flow in the EAD group increased more slowly from 3 to 7 days [PVF change rate: 0.01 (-0.25, 0.62)% vs 0.06 (-0.41, 0.41)%, P=0.003], while PSV, EDV and LHVV had no significant fluctuations. ④In the ultrasound hemodynamic abnormality index, the EAD group has a higher probability of transplanted hepatic artery RI=1.0 than the non-EAD group. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that hepatic artery RI=1.0 within 7 days after surgery was correlated with the occurrence of EAD [Exp(B)=2.413, P=0.005]. Conclusions:After left lateral lobe liver transplantation in children with biliary atresia, the portal vein of children with EAD showed a relatively low flow state.Abnormal ultrasound hemodynamic index hepatic artery RI=1.0 in children within 7 days after surgery can indicate the occurrence of EAD. Ultrasound examination can provide hemodynamic basis for early clinical detection of the presence of EAD.

Objective:To explore the ultrasonic hemodynamic characteristics of early allograft dysfunction after left lateral lobe liver transplantation in children with biliary atresia.Methods:A total of 546 children with biliary atresia who underwent related left lateral lobe liver transplantation at Tianjin First Central Hospital from December 2012 to June 2021 were retrospectively selected, according to the early functional recovery of the transplanted liver, it was divided into a normal function recovery group (non-EAD group) and an early allograft dysfunction group (EAD group). The hepatic artery peak systolic flow velocity (PSV), end-diastolic flow velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI), portal vein diameter (PVD), portal vein flow velocity (PVV), portal vein flow (PVF), left hepatic vein diameter (LHVD) and left hepatic vein velocity (LHVV) were measured 1 to 7 days after surgery (a total of 3 703 ultrasound examination results), and the differences in ultrasound hemodynamic parameters between the two groups were compared. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between hepatic artery RI=1.0, PSV<25 cm/s, PVV<15 cm/s, LHVV<15 cm/s and the occurrence of EAD within 7 days after surgery.Results:① Among the 546 children with biliary atresia, 262 children developed EAD after liver transplantation, and 284 children did not develop EAD. ②The portal vein flow of children in the EAD group was lower than that of the non-EAD group on 3 days, 4 days, 6 days and 7 days after surgery [3 days: 783 (560, 1 170) ml/(min·100 g) vs 942 (597, 1 381) ml/(min·100 g), P=0.006; 4 d: 862(594, 1 443) ml/(min·100 g) vs 1 068(748, 1 606) ml/(min·100 g), P=0.001; 6 d: 1 024 (631, 1 447) ml/(min·100 g) vs 1 141 (777, 1 709) ml/(min·100 g), P=0.005; 7 d: 937 (619, 1 408) ml/(min·100 g) vs 1 066 (670, 1 557) ml/(min·100 g), P=0.018]. The hepatic artery blood flow parameter RI was higher than that in the non-EAD group 7 days after surgery [0.72 (0.65, 0.79) vs 0.70 (0.63, 0.76), P=0.025]. There were no statistically significant differences in hepatic venous blood flow parameters between the two groups from 1 to 7 days (all P>0.05). ③Both the PVV and PVF in the EAD group and the non-EAD group showed an overall upward trend over time from 1 to 7 days after surgery, but compared with the non-EAD group, the portal vein flow in the EAD group increased more slowly from 3 to 7 days [PVF change rate: 0.01 (-0.25, 0.62)% vs 0.06 (-0.41, 0.41)%, P=0.003], while PSV, EDV and LHVV had no significant fluctuations. ④In the ultrasound hemodynamic abnormality index, the EAD group has a higher probability of transplanted hepatic artery RI=1.0 than the non-EAD group. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that hepatic artery RI=1.0 within 7 days after surgery was correlated with the occurrence of EAD [Exp(B)=2.413, P=0.005]. Conclusions:After left lateral lobe liver transplantation in children with biliary atresia, the portal vein of children with EAD showed a relatively low flow state.Abnormal ultrasound hemodynamic index hepatic artery RI=1.0 in children within 7 days after surgery can indicate the occurrence of EAD. Ultrasound examination can provide hemodynamic basis for early clinical detection of the presence of EAD.

Objective:To investigate the value of derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) in predicting the prognosis of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patients treated with the first-line atezolizumab immunotherapy and chemotherapy.Methods:From the Project Data Sphere platform, the clinical data and laboratory test data of 53 ES-SCLC patients who received the first-line atezolizumab immunotherapy and chemotherapy in the global multicenter phase Ⅱ prospective study NCT03041311 from February 2017 to February 2022 were collected. The Contal-O'Quigley method was used to calculate the optimal cut-off value of baseline dNLR for determining the overall survival (OS) of patients. The dNLR higher than or equal to the optimal cut-off value was defined as high dNLR, and less than the optimal cut-off value was defined as low dNLR. According to optimal cut-off value, the dNLR levels at baseline and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy were determined, and dynamic dNLR grouping was performed (low risk: low dNLR at baseline and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy; intermediate risk: high dNLR at baseline or after 4 cycles of chemotherapy; high risk: high dNLR at baseline and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy). The differences in clinicopathological features between the baseline high dNLR group and low dNLR group were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the OS and progression-free survival (PFS) curves, and log-rank test was used to compare the differences between the two groups. Univariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the influencing factors of OS and PFS. The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of baseline dNLR grouping and dynamic dNLR grouping for 1-year OS rate in ES-SCLC patients receiving the first-line atezolizumab immunotherapy and chemotherapy.Results:Among the 53 patients, 34 (64.20%) were male and 19 (35.80%) were female; 27 (50.90%) were < 65 years old and 26 (49.10%) were ≥65 years old. The optimal cut-off value of baseline dNLR for determining the OS was 1.79. There were 17 cases in low dNLR group and 36 cases in high dNLR group at baseline. The proportion of patients with elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the baseline high dNLR group was higher than that in the baseline low dNLR group [58.33% (21/36) vs. 17.65% (3/17), χ2 = 7.72, P = 0.005]. The 1-year OS rates of the baseline high and low dNLR groups were 44.0% and 81.9%, and the 1-year PFS rates were 2.5% and 17.6%. The differences in OS and PFS between the two groups were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). There were 38 patients with complete dynamic dNLR data, including 9 cases of low-risk, 19 cases of medium-risk and 10 cases of high-risk, and the 1-year OS rates of the three groups were 90.0%, 67.5% and 33.3%, the difference in OS between the three groups was statistically significant ( P = 0.011). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that baseline dNLR (low dNLR vs. high dNLR) was the influencing factor for OS of patients ( HR = 0.163, 95% CI 0.057-0.469, P = 0.001) and PFS ( HR = 0.505, 95% CI 0.268-0.952, P = 0.035). Time-dependent ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of baseline dNLR grouping and dynamic dNLR grouping for predicting 1-year OS rate of ES-SCLC patients receiving the first-line atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy was 0.674 (95% CI 0.575-0.887) and 0.731 (95% CI 0.529-0.765). Conclusions:Baseline and dynamic dNLR grouping may be effective markers for predicting the prognosis of ES-SCLC patients receiving the first-line atezolizumab immunotherapy and chemotherapy.